Thinking Of Buying A Porsche Boxster

[ctjet]

........... MAN53X .............

[WTF-33R]

had to do it. hahahahaha

[scathing]

Have you ever driven a Cayenne or Cayenne Turbo? I'm guessing you havent. I can safely say they a the best handling and best performing SUV on the market. Most of my workmates would choose a cayenne over one of the sports cars. For a big car they handle, they ride and you can take the family!

That's my point exactly. They can take the family, and its an overly big car, which makes them not a Porsche. A Porsche is meant to be a pure sports car that's only as big and heavy as it needs to be to go fast.

Porsche could build a truck that outhandled every Mack, Kenworth, MAN, Scania, etc on the planet while being able to double the length of a road train. In the end its still a truck, which means its not a real Porsche.

To my eyes, a Porsche should be a sports car first with some compromises towards road / market usability. Which is why the 911 has that much grip and grunt, but is compromised in ultimate performance because weighs a little more than necessary with all the luxury crap and has a low-mount parcel shelf the brochure refers to as a +2 seat.

The Boxster has that handling, but is compromised in its ultimate performance because the engine is so underpowered for the amount of chassis balance and grip in order to bring the price down.

The Cayenne, on the other hand, is a large lumbering offroad family vehicle whose fuel consumption, insurance costs, and high purchase price are compromised by all the go-fast bits in it. Its not a fast car that happens to seat 5. Its a 5 seat car that happens to go fast.

I'm not knocking its crash safety either - but I don't think that crash safety is what defines a Porsche (despite an apparent history of crash safety). It defines a Volvo, certainly, but not Porsche.

[WTF-33R]

That's my point exactly. They can take the family, and its an overly big car, which makes them not a Porsche. A Porsche is meant to be a pure sports car that's only as big and heavy as it needs to be to go fast.

Porsche could build a truck that outhandled every Mack, Kenworth, MAN, Scania, etc on the planet while being able to double the length of a road train. In the end its still a truck, which means its not a real Porsche.

To my eyes, a Porsche should be a sports car first with some compromises towards road / market usability. Which is why the 911 has that much grip and grunt, but is compromised in ultimate performance because weighs a little more than necessary with all the luxury crap and has a low-mount parcel shelf the brochure refers to as a +2 seat.

The Boxster has that handling, but is compromised in its ultimate performance because the engine is so underpowered for the amount of chassis balance and grip in order to bring the price down.

The Cayenne, on the other hand, is a large lumbering offroad family vehicle whose fuel consumption, insurance costs, and high purchase price are compromised by all the go-fast bits in it. Its not a fast car that happens to seat 5. Its a 5 seat car that happens to go fast.

I'm not knocking its crash safety either - but I don't think that crash safety is what defines a Porsche (despite an apparent history of crash safety). It defines a Volvo, certainly, but not Porsche.

This is where you missed my previoius post that : "Porsche IS NOT a car company. They ARE AN ENGINEERING COMPANY. The Cars ARE A BY-PRODUCT of thier ENGINEERING"

[Forged]

That's my point exactly. They can take the family, and its an overly big car, which makes them not a Porsche. A Porsche is meant to be a pure sports car that's only as big and heavy as it needs to be to go fast.

Porsche could build a truck that outhandled every Mack, Kenworth, MAN, Scania, etc on the planet while being able to double the length of a road train. In the end its still a truck, which means its not a real Porsche.

The Cayenne, on the other hand, is a large lumbering offroad family vehicle whose fuel consumption, insurance costs, and high purchase price are compromised by all the go-fast bits in it. Its not a fast car that happens to seat 5. Its a 5 seat car that happens to go fast.

Who's better to define what's a "real porsche" other than Porsche AG, so heres what Porsche had to say about the CayenneA Real Porsche

The Cayenne is the REAL Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) that out performs many so called sports cars on the road(not to mention its off-road capabilities) whos physics defying abillity was recognized by racing drivers, motor journalists, and car enthusiasts world wide.

For example "GT Purely Porsche" Magazine once quoted "More than anything it feels like a proper Porsche: a car that takes the company's unparalleled knowledge of performance car development and applies it to an altogether different discipline" (Cayenne Turbo)

If Porsche developed the Cayenne to be the world's best SUV, and it did, in the tradtion of Porsches pureness, then I say a Porsche SUV is a real Porsche. Just as a Porsche convertible is a real Porsche and a Porsche 911 with Tiptronic is still a real Porsche.

[scathing]

Who's better to define what's a "real porsche" other than Porsche AG, so heres what Porsche had to say about the CayenneA Real Porsche

Do you think that the marketing guys trying to sell the car would say anything less?

I can just see the press release now, "Yeah...the vehicle goes against our traditions and so we don't particularly believe in it....but don't let that dissaude you from giving us a shitload of money for it because you want to one-up the guys in the other German brands that haven't made a tradition of only building sports cars"

The company that gave us the original Quattro and started the whole 4WD turbo rally homologation special reckons the TT is a proper sports car. Nissan Australia, by their choice of imports, reckons that Australian family sedan buyers would prefer the FWD J31 Maxima to the RWD or AWD V35 Skyline. Subaru's whole motto used to be that symmetric AWD was the best drivetrain ever....until the last STi was released with the adjustable centre diff, at which point the word "symmetric" seems to have disappeared from their marketing.

[700HP-GTR33]

Without the Cayenne porsche would have had to sell up to GM,FORD,OR CHRYSLER.

The Numbers and overheads Porsche have could not have supported a race car only.

They needed to build something for the American Market..(For the Family Market) to survive.

This is why the sales reps. who give the shit talk about the car....although they hate to admit it is a monster.

So every-one thank the Cayenne for the continued support of the true sport car...911 Turbo.

If the company got in the hand of a Giant they would have had things forced on them to keep the car costs down and slow or even stop(200SX) development.......look at Jaguar,Nissan and the troubles they have of building a sports car today....

Renault has slowed down the GTR's development as soon as it took over the company......other manufactures

will bring out faster cars before it is launched...

[Modena]

lol

[Forged]

I can just see the press release now, "Yeah...the vehicle goes against our traditions and so we don't particularly believe in it....but don't let that dissaude you from giving us a shitload of money for it because you want to one-up the guys in the other German brands that haven't made a tradition of only building sports cars"

What '700HP-GTR33' said was true that Porsche needed the Cayenne to survive. But the fact its developed by Porsche, the very company that makes some of the world's greatest sports cars, it has proven to be the best SUV too. You wouldnt think Porsche will try to screw their customers for some quick penny by giving them an inferior product and impair their reputation in the process. Infact the Porsche brand value has never been higher, in the present.

So heres my point again: the Cayenne might not be a real sports car which it never intended to be, it still is a REAL Porsche.

[700HP-GTR33]

What '700HP-GTR33' said was true that Porsche needed the Cayenne to survive. But the fact its developed by Porsche, the very company that makes some of the world's greatest sports cars, it has proven to be the best SUV too. You wouldnt think Porsche will try to screw their customers for some quick penny by giving them an inferior product and impair their reputation in the process. Infact the Porsche brand value has never been higher, in the present.

So heres my point again: the Cayenne might not be a real sports car which it never intended to be, it still is a REAL Porsche.

...not to offend though...lol

Porsche has been saved by quick thinking executives.

The Cayenne is a great car...4WD...and if I could afford it my no.1 pick.

Their is no other performance suv on the market that can hold up to it.

[WTF-33R]

I can vouch for the quality of the Cayenne. I was sitting in the Passenger seat when the driver of the car had to swerve into mud on a wet road to avoid hitting a car and ended up collecting the armco. I walked out of that with no injuries

[Duncan]

I can vouch for the quality of the Cayenne. I was sitting in the Passenger seat when the driver of the car had to swerve into mud on a wet road to avoid hitting a car and ended up collecting the armco. I walked out of that with no injuries

aren't you just vouching that 2.2tonne cars have poor grip and handling despite big engines

[Beer Baron]

yes I much prefer active safety to passive safety. how a car performs in a crash is all well and good, but I'd much rather not be in the crash at all if possible.

[R32gts-t]

I can't believe the shit i'm reading in here...

cayenne turbo comfortably laps a quicker time around the ring than bmw's m3 and the boxter s,

that alone is enough to shut anyone down who thinks the cayenne isn't a real porsche.

they are designed for wealthy people who like to drive fast, in germany they have these amazing roads that allow you to travel at high speeds (autobahns) porsche released a family car that performs like a sports coupe.

only small minded people avoid or disapprove of change, open your minds.

Edited December 4, 2006 by R32gts-t

[VB-]

Have you ever driven a Cayenne or Cayenne Turbo? I'm guessing you havent. I can safely say they a the best handling and best performing SUV on the market. Most of my workmates would choose a cayenne over one of the sports cars. For a big car they handle, they ride and you can take the family! A car that can truely be labelled "Sports Utility Vehicle. Unfortunately (or fortunately I can attest to the Cayenne's saftey after one I was in left in a sticky situation, which had the car ending up in a mud pit sliding sideways into an armco. If it had been any other car I wouldnt be here right now.

i had the pleasure of being in the passenger seat of one a couple of years back while workin at porsche and omg what a car... (wasnt even the turbo model) dont even know how to explain it, its a big brute, you hear that signature V8 note when you hit like 3000rpm, but its so refined at the same time.

altho when you factor in cost, i'd have to be a very rich man before spending that much, but if i was gonna buy a car for around that much, thats one of the first cars i'd look at, right after an M5 lol

[700HP-GTR33]

aren't you just vouching that 2.2tonne cars have poor grip and handling despite big engines

0-100km in 5.5 seconds..........beats all the XR6 Turbos, FPV or not,GTS 6L super-charged and not to mention a few of our skylines down the quarter.

Weight has nothing to do with it........power to weigh has.

Next time one is passing you...make sure you get a lookat it

[Maxx]

cayenne turbo comfortably laps a quicker time around the ring than bmw's m3 and the boxter s

sorry to be a pain, but Cayenne turbo is not quicker than the boxster around the ring

If any cayenne is, it will be the turbo S

520hp

0-100 4.8sec

Edited December 4, 2006 by Maxx

[psybic]

I guess when you are spending so much money there are sooo many options.

Alot of people are talking only about performance.

I just sold a 210hp 1200kg car for $6,500 and bought a slow arse r33 skyline for $13,000.

Its not all about power. Some of us don't RACE everywhere.

Some people ( not me ) kinda need to look impressive as part of their image to help their careers.

You aren't going to listen to a consultant who just rocked up in an S12 gazelle who promptly ripped a burnout through the first 3 gears on exit of meeting... well... i would... but yeh...

[WTF-33R]

aren't you just vouching that 2.2tonne cars have poor grip and handling despite big engines

yes I much prefer active safety to passive safety. how a car performs in a crash is all well and good, but I'd much rather not be in the crash at all if possible.

We were in a Position no stability control could ever recover. The Cayenne range have excellent grip, and handling but wet roads, mud and road tyres didnt help. Had I been in any other car - I would have been dead.

sorry to be a pain, but Cayenne turbo is not quicker the boxster around the ring

If any cayenne is, it will be the turbo S

520hp

0-100 4.8sec

Power isnt everything its how you use it. The Turbo S only came out a few months back. (E49 Series M5 and 986 Boxster were the current models at the time of the Cayennes release.

Edited December 4, 2006 by RB_n00b

[Smurf]

On advice from a number of members I test drove a MX5 today (the current model).

Definitely a nice car. Didn't really get a chance to test the limits due to mazda employee next to me.

As far as acceleration is concerned, it wasn't bad, though not great either, which I guess is what you expect. Did feel punchy though imagine you would get used to it very quickly and soon want more.

As far as handling is concerned, it had a bit more body role than I thought. Mind you less than my current R33 which still has the standard suspension. It absorbs imperfections very well with a more comfortable ride than say and S2000 or S15 200SX. The trade off I think is probably mechanical gip, although this is just a guess.

The breaks seemed extremely strong. I know this as they are very touchy, so when I applied the breaks like I would in my car, I got a bit of a shock. It was similar to the time I tried left foot braking and ended up locking up the wheels (although the MX5's wheels did not lock up).

When I got back into my car I wasn't disappointed at all. In fact I though how good and enjoyable skylines. The only thing I missed from the MX5 was the flat handling, which is something I can get from some new suspension parts.

I now need to test a Boxster. Unless it puts a smile on my face that I cannot replicate in my R33, I think I will stick with my Skyline for a few more years.

Cheers

Cheers